Kieren Fallon - the man for the big occasion

Kieren Fallon's genius in the saddle was without question. Here, Press Association Sport looks at six of his very best rides.

TOP CEES, Chester Cup, Chester (1995)

A big-race winner on the Flat and over jumps, Top Cees was a tough stayer who was trained to the minute to land several big handicaps - and they don't come much bigger than the Chester Cup. But that's only half the story. Fallon had been in the plate on his previous start when an eyecatching failure at Newmarket and comments in the Sporting Life prompted a libel action that was fought out in a high-profile court case three years later. Fallon won that, just as he did the Chester Cup, where he picked his way through the tightly-packed field from the rear for a five-length verdict. Ice-cool.

MEDICEAN, Coral-Eclipse, Sandown (2001)

A Fallon masterclass. Prior to the Eclipse, Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old, a crack miler, had only tried 10 furlongs once, when supposedly a handicap snip in the Magnet Cup at York. Unfortunately a draw somewhere near the car park put paid to his chances, so stamina was something of an unknown. The Machiavellian colt looked booked for a place at best approaching the final furlong, but Fallon's never-say-die attitude was never more evident as his mount made rapid late progress, swallowing up Grandera's lead and getting home by what was in the end a cosy half a length.

KRIS KIN, Derby, Epsom (2003)

The money was down and punters' pal Fallon delivered just when it mattered most. Sir Michael Stoute's colt was the subject of a massive late plunge for the blue riband and the jockey proved he was a worthy successor to the legendary Lester Piggott as 'King of Epsom' with a vintage ride. Kris Kin was in a reasonable position coming down the straight, but there was still plenty to do as he was pulled off the rail for his run - and an appreciative crowd nearly l ifted the roof off as Fallon fired him up for a ground-devouring finish to capture the ultimate prize by a length. Absolutely brilliant.

HURRICANE RUN, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp (2005)

Andre Fabre's colt made it look easy in the end but it was far from a cakewalk in Europe's most prestigious race as Fallon engaged his razor-sharp brain and fearless spirit to make it happen. Hurricane Run looked in trouble towards the rear as they headed into the straight, but Fallon was unconcerned and dived for the inside berth in a risky manoeuvre that proved a race-winner. His top-class partner did the rest, seizing the openings as they came to launch a blistering finish that carried him home by two lengths. This was a jockey at the top of his game. The master at his most masterful.

FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND, 2000 Guineas, Newmarket (2005)

Not necessarily Fallon's greatest ride - though executed with the big-race precision by now expected - but definitely one of his most important. Fallon's surprise switch from Sir Michael Stoute's yard to take over the retainer at Ballydoyle required a Classic victory for vindication, and Fallon supplied two, winning the 2000 on Footstepsinthesand and the 1000 on Virginia Waters for Aidan O'Brien. It was the first time a jockey-trainer combination had landed both races since 1967. Footstepsinthesand grabbed the lead over a furlong out in the centre of the track and won by a length and a quarter, to Fallon's obvious delight.

DYLAN THOMAS, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp (2007)

Pressure, what pressure? Less than 24 hours before his trial at the Old Bailey was due to begin, Fallon could have been forgiven if he had wanted to hide away in the shadows, far away from the spotlight, and certainly a long way from the glare of the racing world gathered in the suburbs of Paris. But he was a man with a job to do, and how he did it. The ground had been thought to have gone against the O'Brien-trained Dylan Thomas, with many favouring the chance of his stablemate Soldier Of Fortune. But Fallon conjured his old magic to drive his partner home in a pulsating finish from Youmzain. Interference was caused in the process, however, and the local officials took well over 30 minutes before upholding the result. The crowd went wild afterwards, confirming once and for all Fallon's place in the racing public's affections.

Kieren Fallon - the things they said

::: Aidan O'Brien after Dylan Thomas won the 2006 Irish Champion Stakes, beating Ouija Board in a thriller: "With Kieren on your side you are never beaten. He never had to get really serious with Dylan Thomas and he seemed to allow Ouija Board join him and then head him, knowing that he had her covered."

::: John Magnier after Dylan Thomas won the 2006 Irish Derby: "If Ireland were in the World Cup and in a penalty shootout, the man I would pick to take the fifth penalty would be Kieren."

::: O'Brien again after Fallon's dramatic victory on Dylan Thomas in the 2007 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: "What a masterful ride he gave him and I don't think he has ever been beaten on this horse. When Kieren gets on a horse he goes into a different land. What a unique talent he is."

::: Fallon after George Washington's 2000 Guineas victory: "He's got an electrifying turn of foot. He's done everything. He's a great horse."

::: Fallon after Dylan Thomas' 2007 Irish Champion Stakes success: "He's the best I've ever ridden."

::: O'Brien after Oratorio's win in the 2005 Irish Champion Stakes: "I cannot give enough praise to the winning rider. I thought Kieren was absolutely brilliant. He just produces him absolutely brilliantly - he's a master jockey."

::: David Nicholls after Fallon won the 2005 Stewards' Cup on Gift Horse from an improbable position: "He's king of the planet!"

::: Ed Dunlop after Fallon steered Ouija Board to Breeders' Cup glory in 2004: "We were lucky with the draw. If we'd been further wide than five we might not have been able to get the position on the rails. But Kieren found the right spot and gave her a fantastic ride."

::: Sir Michael Stoute after Golan won the 2002 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes: "Kieren was brilliant. It wasn't the plan to be so far back, but he was very cool. He was patient and took what was the right route."

::: O'Brien after Rumplestiltskin won the 2005 Prix Marcel Boussac: "Kieren really gave the filly a masterful ride."

::: Fallon, playing down his role in Hurricane Run's thrilling 2005 Arc success: "I made the right decision. You take risks going up the inside but if often pays off when you go that way. Eight times out of 10 it's the right thing to do."

::: Part-owner Michael Tabor is left breathless after Hurricane Run: "I still cannot believe he managed to win from where he was. He just showed what a good horse he is. It was something to behold."

::: Fallon after Ouija Board's 2005 Hong Kong Vase success: "I've ridden some seriously good fillies like Bosra Sham and Islington and on this evidence she must be right up there with them."

::: Stoute after North Light won the 2004 Derby: "I am pleased for Kieren too - we are a good team and we work well together and I hope we will be working together for a while yet."

::: Stoute after Kris Kin had won the 2003 Derby: "You've got one of the great rides round Epsom on Derby day from Kieren Fallon."

::: A spokesman for William Hill bemoans Fallon's Kris Kin heroics: "I don't know if it's because of the 'Fallon Factor' or the fact the winner was called Kris, but he was the most popular horse on the day and punters have won millions."